Peace, Love, and Football....(and wet dogs)

Once again, busy busy busy....not complaining, mind you, but life here on the ranch has been pretty darn hectic.  My boyfriend (aka husband) is the assistant coach of our football team, and I think I've said before, our two oldest boys play on the team, and our youngest, Lizzie, is the stat girl....so needless to say, we're on the go a lot right now.  I like it though, because the fall is pretty much our only slow time at the ranch.  So the football and volleyball games are sort of mini vacations for us!  Our closest game is an hour and a half drive from us, the farthest is about 5 hours from here!  AND...we're going into the championships, so we'll probably travel farther than that!  Have I mentioned that I do love this though!?!  lol

Fall is finally here though and I'm loving this weather.  It stayed warm a lot longer than usual, so finally the leaves are falling and the nights are cool.  However, fall weather means some moisture, some moisture means WET DOGS!  ugh.....I sooo wish I had a mud room that we could lock them in at night, instead of my house!  oh well, such is life.....

Where's Waldo? (or Tracey for that matter)

hhhmmmm...what excuse can I ponder up for why I've been away from my blog for so long.  "I'm such a busy mother and housewife that I forgot", no. "I now have THREE kids in high school and I just forgot", no. "We were so busy this summer putting up hay and entertaining company, I forgot", no.  "The dog ate my homework", aaahhh No.  Okay, no excuses, the simple fact is "all of the above".  We all know how life gets away from us, and I've learned that lesson to the extreme lately.  Our family lost a much loved uncle last week and a couple from our small town were killed by a drunk driver last week.  Life got away.   I think things like this tend to make us want to slow down and savor the gifts.  Gifts like our children, our spouses, our homes, our jobs, our pets, our health....everything.  So, I pledge to slow down.  (don't have a heart attack, I'm really going to try). 
So!  For starters!  Today is Tuesday, I will go to town with my boyfriend/husband, pick up a repaired tractor tire, fit in a much needed "date" lunch, purchase the last of the show supplies for fair, get a new can of hairspray (a girl can't go to Fair without some Good Hairspray), get some more dog food, remember to purchase stock in the dog food company when I get home, and maybe tan (brown fat is SOOOO much better looking than white fat)!  Then I'll come home, fix dinner, do the dishes (no dishwasher in this house), finish the daily laundry, help the kids finish fitting their fair steers, jump into bed with my boyfriend and lay in bed and think about what's going to happen tomorrow.......UGH, exhausted already.

George, Reba, and Lee Ann, in five days......Woo Hoo!  We're taking off Thursday after school for the Big City of Portland, Or!  It'll take us about 6 hours to drive there.  Friday night we're going to "THE" concert and I'm so excited!  I'm not excited for myself (although I am hoping to get a nice toush shot of the Big Guy), but I'm excited for my kids.  Colten (16) and Lizzie (14) have always loved the Big Guy.  Colten swore up and down, when he was a wee one, that when he grew up he was moving to Texas to work on George Strait's ranch....LOL.

Ya know, I've been thinking.....I know that we'll be only a couple of fans in a huge venue - but we do count.  I can imagine that so many of the people that will be there have a "story" about George.  "I saw him in Tahoe when I was in College", "Remember when he had to cancel his appearance at our county fair", "You can't beat a classic George song when you ask your honey to dance", and my favorite "I love his wranglers".  I wish that there were some way that we could convey how much it means to us "civilians" to be able to witness such an awesome event.  Now I know that this isn't like the Presidential Inauguration or anything....but to us simple country folk - it's even Better!  I'm breaking out my best pair of cute jeans, getting a new shirt, and polishing my boots for this one!  (while during the election coverage, I sat on the couch in my pj's, flipping between CNN and "House Hunters" - No Comparison)

Any how....excited to go see my guy.  But will definately miss my boyfriend (aka husband) while I'm gone.  "Take care of the cows Honey, Momma's going to town!".....

Rose and Shone! (vs Rise and Shine)

I Love Sundays!  Woke up early, went to sunday school and church, checked heifers on the way home - yet another new addition to the ranch - now relaxing at home!  March Madness is in full swing in this house, so guess I'll go take a nap! lol

Ya know, we really should relish our Sunday afternoon naps.  Seriously, it's an important time for this momma to catch up on much needed sleep without feeling guilty!  Colten and Lizzie are headed out to ride.  There's a cow with a calf that isn't sucking.  Austen is headed out to work with his 4-H steer, and Shannon (aka boyfriend) is finally taking a break while watching a little bball.  I just love Sundays!

little bit of this.....little bit of that.....

ugh....been sick lately - migraine and other troubles....this momma is not used to be down so it's been pretty rough.

Good news though - babies are dropping all over the place.  The heifers are starting to calve now so it's time for all of those fun nightime checks! lol - really it's not so bad, it's pretty peaceful when you're able to get up at midnight and three am and sneak the truck out to look at the momma's.  We haven't had any problems yet, which is such a great thing.  Shannon bought some really awesome heifer bulls last year and it looks like they did their jobs well!
Basketball is over now, so it's time to work, work, work, with the 4-H steers.  The kids are pretty excited about their picks this year.  I think Colten Ben's is going to be a really good one.  Our judge is Jeannie Yardly from the mid-west.  She came out last year and did a really good job for us.  I know it's a while away - September - but fair time is always the Best time of year!

Time Flies.....

I once saw a stamp with this saying on it:  Times fun when you're having flies! (and there were two frogs on it)......Well, that may be true, but Time flies when you're having fun too!

Too long since my last blog....need to get better about that.  We are starting to calve here...already have 12 on the ground (only 388 to go!).  The #2 bull got out and I guess he did some business before we got him back in!  LOL

Things are going to get really busy in the next few weeks, so we're going to steal away for the weekend.  We don't really get much family time away from the ranch, so I'm really excited to have them ALL TO MYSELF!!!  No equipment, dogs, Papa, cows, - nothing - to take away their attention!  ;)  That makes this momma happy.

Our middle boy - Colten Ben - turns 16 tomorrow!  After his basketball game he's going to head to town (klamath falls) to go bowling with friends.  Can you believe that?  He wants to do something with his friends,,,,not his momma and daddy!  The nerve of that 16 year old boy!  hmph.
oh well....hehe....I know he'll have a good time.  Then we'll be leaving friday morning to head somewhere - we're not quite sure yet....just somewhere where it might be warm and where we can have some adventures!  I'll let ya know how it went!!!

The Break-Up

Dang it.....Colten's gonna break up with Kendra.  My heart is broken....

Colten is our 15 (soon to be 16) year old.  He's been "going out" with Kendra for about 6 months now.  Kendra is from Tulelake.  Tulelake has always been Butte Valley's biggest rivals, since even before Shannon and I were in high school here.  We never liked those darn "Honkers", I'm not quite sure why we didn't like them, probably because that's what the upperclassmen told us to do....but it's a fact - the Bulldogs despise the Honkers. 
Tomorrow night we have a basketball game in Tulelake.  Now, just to give you a little back ground.  Butte Valley has a population of about 900, whereas Tulelake has about 1200 (I Know, big city!).  They always seemed to do better in sports that us - except of course when I was in high school!  We had a winning streak that wouldn't quit, not only in Basketball, but Volleyball and Football as well.  It was sooooo cool beating out those stupid geese!
But, tomorrow night's the night.  Most kids are going to bed with thoughts about strategy on winning.  I'm sure Colten's thinking about a broken heart.  He's a sweet boy, always has been.  He's never been one to hurt anyone's feelings.  He came to me tonight while I was in my bedroom packing for a weekend Mommy get-away.  He sorta lingered about.  I let him.  Finally it came out, "Mom, I'm thinking of breaking up with Kendra".  Big breath.  Poor kid (Kendra I mean, Colten's on the easy end of this deal).  There is never an easy way to "break up".  Yuck, I don't even like those words.  But, anyhow, Colten said, "Mom, I've prayed about it and I think it's what's right.  I'm going to be 16 next month and she won't be 14 until April.  I'm going to be able to drive and her dad still won't even let her come over without causing a fuss."  He's right, her daddy is having a rough time with the "Butte Valley Boy" snooping around his daughter.  I sure feel for the kid.  He doesn't get to see her very often, so I'm sure that's part of it.  Anyhow, I wasn't sure what kind of advise to give him, you see I'd always been on Kendra's side of this kind of deal.  I never broke up with anyone - they always dumped me.  Notice how I used the word "dumped", that a girl thing.  We'll never say "He broke up with me because of the distance".  We'll say this instead, "the jerk dumped me".

Oh me, young hearts.  All I can think of is that I'm glad I'm leaving town in the morning! 

Tim McGraw vs. George Strait

Not even a toss up...as far as I'm concerned.  I love Tim McGraw's music and he's definately helped country music reach a whole new generation, but will there EVER, and I mean EVER, be anyone who could compare the the most awesome George Strait. 
When our middle son, Colten, was a toddler, he was convinced that when he grew up he would "rope and work on George Strait's ranch in Texas".  It was his pact answer whenever asked "what do you want to be when you grow up Colten Ben?".  Love it!  Today, he'll tell ya that he's changed his mind a little bit.  He wants to take over our ranch, along with his sister, and continue to carry on the Struble tradition!  I love that even more!
As I'm typing this, I'm listening to our two boys, and three of their friends (who stayed the night for an all night XBox party UGH), rock out to our local country station while they're cleaning up the yard.   It's really funny to listen to them, I sorta feel like I'm invading at times.  I've heard:  "Man, I just wish it'd snow", "Nick, did ya bring your shotgun", "do you think they knew we were playing hide-n-seek in the barn last night", "Crap,,, "yeah, dog crap". hahahaha.  and my favorite yet, (directed at me when I went out to see their progress), "Hey Woman, Get Back In That There House And Cook Us Some Grub"....Boys....gotta love 'em.
guess I better sign off and go cook......

Buster

Okay, we have quite a few animals on the ranch.  Some we use as income, some we use to herd the income, some are used for mealtime, and some are just plain useless.

A useful animal is one that can provide something.  ie, food, warmth, comfort, that sorta thing.
A useless animals is one that your daughter falls in love with and brings home.

Buster is Lizzie's newest love.  We have a few cats around the ranch, they are great for keeping the country mouse out of the country (I'm sure some do move in with their city cousins).  Lizzie decided that we needed a cute little kitty to have in the house.  I agreed for two reasons, one - I do like kitties, and two - there are mouse dropping in my cupboard  (GROSS)!

Cousin Lori provided cute little Roxy for us.  Lizzie picked her out and brought her home.  We all fell in love, she is the cutest darn kitty, looks like a siamese and very loving and playful.  Then, it happened, one day Roxy grew balls.  Yes, you read that right, she grew balls.  Roxy turned into Buster. 

Since Lizzie said it was a girl kitty, I never dreampt to confirm the sex.  Lizzie is a pretty darn smart little rancher girl and definately in tune to all of the animals around.  But,,,,life does play tricks, and RoxyakaBuster was one.  Oh well.....

Just Wonderin'

Well, I was just sitting here wondering.  Wondering about family that I haven't seen in a long time.  Wondering how Colten will do in his basketball game tomorrow.  Wondering when Lizzie will ever turn into the kinda girl who LIKES to shop with her momma.  Wondering when we'll start calving.

Yeah, when calving starts, life (as I live it in my imagination) ends.  From about March until May babies are poppin out all over the ranch.  Then from June till about October, we hay, so, our lives are at the mercy of the ranch.  I'm not complaining mind you, I like that tie, but....it isn't always easy.  We have about 400 mother cows to watch over.  The cows usually do fine, it's the heifers (first time momma's) you have to watch carefully.  I remember back in 1992 when I was pregnant with our first child.  My father (Benny aka Papa) actually sent me roses for mothers day!  I hadn't delivered our son yet, and was so surprised to get flowers!  Especially from Papa.  Benny is a typical old cowboy.  He lives simply, loves his dogs (I mean LOVES his dogs), and doesn't require much from life.  He doesn't always give much either, not in a bad way, but he's just a simple kind of no-nonsense man.  After I received the flowers I had to call him (we lived in Washington state at the time).  After I thanked him, I asked him why he'd sent the flowers.  This was his answer:  "Well, Trace, you're just a young heifer now, once the kid is born, you'll be an old experienced cow and I won't have to worry anymore".  Truer words have never been spoken. 

Two Thousand and What?????

Wow - what year is it now? Did you ever imagine living in 2010..I know I didn't. I remember Prince (or what is he called now) singing about 1999! That's seemed impossible to me, now we're in the 2000's....weird.
New Years Resolutions....not for this girl. I think I'll just keep on keepin on! Living my life as I have been, which includes always trying to improve on things. I think I'll keep my husband this year (he's a pretty darn cute guy) and I think my kids too, I sorta like them. I would, however, trade a dog or two (or 10). I love my dogs, but, seriously, 10 dogs! I just wish we could get the back porch enclosed so they'd have a warm spot (other than in from of my monitor)! Oh well, while this isn't the life I signed up for, it is my life!